Crispy air fried Brussels sprouts make an excellent keto side dish. Drizzle with garlic Parmesan butter for the ultimate Brussels sprouts experience.
Fun fact: the correct term for these mini green cabbage-like veggies is Brussels sprouts. Not, as many people think, “brussel sprouts”.
I have a thing for etymology and I always love taking a closer look at words and names and their origins. And Brussels sprouts are actually named after the Belgian city, so the world Brussels should be capitalized.
You really can’t blame people for being confused, though. When you say it out loud, it all runs together, so the two terms sound exactly the same. We don’t name too many vegetables after cities, after all.
Why yes, I am a total dork. And perfectly happy in my dorkiness.
Air fried Brussels sprouts are deliciously crispy
One of my all time favorite ways to cook Brussels sprouts is to deep fry them. A local restaurant here serves the BEST fried Brussels and whenever we go, I order them.
I have made a pretty great version of these at home and I even published that recipe in my first cookbook, The Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen.
It’s so good but it’s also a huge amount of work! Deep frying is a messy business and your house tends to smell like fried food for days afterward.
Enter the air fryer! Woo hoo, this popular kitchen appliance has seriously changed the game for millions of home cooks.
Is it exactly the same as deep frying? No. But it does get them deliciously browned and crisp, and you can jazz them up with your favorite additions like garlic parmesan butter. How can you go wrong with that?
How to cook Brussels sprouts in an air fryer
If you want truly crispy sprouts out of your air fryer, I have some tips for you!
- Wash and trim your sprouts in advance, and then set them in a tea towel and dry them very well. Any moisture on the Brussels will make them soggier.
- Toss well with your oil of choice. You could do them without any oil but they are less flavorful. They may also stick to the rack of your air fryer.
- Add your favorite seasonings. I went with the classic garlic and Parmesan cheese. I also tossed them with some additional parmesan after cooking.
- Go light on the salt until you taste test them. I recommend about 1/2 tsp before baking and then adding more after if you want.
- Don’t crowd your air fryer too much! If you have a smaller fryer, you may want to do these in two batches. Brussels sprouts have a relatively high moisture content and they tend to steam, rather than crisp up, when there are too many.
- Stir the sprouts during cooking, to move them around a bit and allow for more crispness.
Can they be made ahead of time?
I don’t recommend this, to be honest. They are best eaten right away, when they are still crisp. They tend to soften quite a bit as they sit.
Mind you, I am still happy to eat the leftovers the next day, crispy or not. All that delicious garlicky parmesan flavor is delicious!
More keto Brussels sprouts recipes
- Keto Sheet Pan Chicken
- Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Browned Butter
- Brussels Sprouts Casserole
- Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
- Brussels Sprouts with Hot Bacon Dressing
- Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
- Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Walnuts
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts
- 3 tbsp butter melted
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ounce freshly grated Parmesan divided
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Wash and trim the Brussels sprouts and pat them very dry. Cut each in half, or if they are very large, cut into quarters.
- In a large bowl, toss the sprouts with the butter, garlic, about 3/4 of the Parmesan, the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Air fry at 400F for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring a few times during cooking, until tender and crisped to your liking.
- Return to the bowl to toss in any remaining butter, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Add additional seasonings to taste.
